-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Reports of rapes , killings and other horrors are growing in the Central African Republic . Rights groups accuse security forces and militia gangs of torturing civilians as world leaders warn that the nation is on the verge of a genocide .

Here 's a quick primer to get you up to speed on the escalating situation .

1 . First things first . Tell me about the Central African Republic

The tiny , landlocked nation in central Africa is home to about 5 million people . It declared independence from France in 1960 , and has since been led by presidents or emperors . Some have been elected while others seized power by force . Despite vast resources , including gold , timber , diamonds and uranium , it 's among the poorest nations in the world . The riches from the minerals do n't trickle down to the population , fueling resentment .

Lack of good governance does not help , either .

2 . So what 's going on with all the chaos ?

It started off as anti-government resentment .

A coalition of rebels named Seleka ousted President Francois Bozize in March , the latest in a series of coups since the nation gained independence .

They accused the president of reneging on a peace deal , and demanded that he step down . Months before his ouster , both sides had brokered a deal to form a unity government led by the president .

But that deal fell apart as the rebel coalition pushed its way from the north toward the capital of Bangui , seizing towns along the way .

Rebels infiltrated the capital in March , sending Bozize fleeing to Cameroon .

3 . What happened after the president left ?

The nation plunged into complete chaos .

Political turmoil raged . Looters hit the main cities . Violence became the order of the day . Aid agencies warned of a humanitarian crisis as fear of the rebels prevented critically injured patients from going to health facilities . An unknown number of people have been killed in remote rural areas that are too risky to access . More than 400,000 people have been internally displaced , according to the United Nations . That 's nearly 10 % of the population .

4 . Who 's in charge of the nation now ?

After the president fled , Seleka named its commander , Michel Djotodia , as the new leader . He took over and integrated some of the rebel fighters into the army , analysts say .

5 . Was this the nation 's first instance of instability ?

No .

Political turmoil is nothing new for the Central African Republic .

About a decade ago , Bozize led a coup that deposed his predecessor . Though he later won elections in 2005 and 2011 , he did not have full control of the nation . Rebel groups ran amok for years , especially in rural areas .

In fact , four of the nation 's five presidents since independence have been ousted through unconstitutional means .

6 . OK , the President left and the rebels got their wish . Why 's the fighting ongoing ?

Some say say greed is a factor . Ousted government officials have long accused Seleka of going after the country 's vast minerals .

Then there 's the reprisal aspect .

When the president fled , the poorly-trained national army did n't stand a chance against the rebels . Rebels capitalized on the army 's weakness and went on a rampage , human rights groups say . The list of horrors is endless : rape , torture , kidnappings , looting .

To counter the attacks , vigilante groups formed . Reprisals led to more mayhem . The country descended into anarchy and the United Nations warned that `` the seeds of a genocide are being sown . ''

7 . What role does religion play in the tensions ?

Good question .

Rights groups say Seleka is a predominantly Muslim coalition . As history has shown over and over , religious loyalties can breed contempt and escalate conflicts .

In addition , the conflict has exposed years of marginalization and discrimination against the northern , predominantly Muslim population , the United Nations says . Left uncontrolled , militia groups are banding along religious lines . Most of the vigilante groups fighting back are Christian , leading to fears of a full-blown conflict between the country 's Christians and Muslims .

8 . All this is happening a world away . Why should I care ?

The Central African Republic is surrounded by countries struggling to emerge from years of conflict . South Sudan , Sudan 's Darfur region , the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad are barely stable .

Any instability is sure to have ripple effects that 'll be hard to ignore worldwide .

CAR is also believed to be one of Joseph Kony 's hideouts . The United States sent special forces to the region last year to help hunt down Kony , the brutal leader of the Lord Resistance Army . In a sign of a potentially expanded role , the Pentagon recently said it 's considering sending aircraft to assault the Kony militia .

The chaos not only risk destabilizing the region , they could complicate the Kony mission .

9 . What 's the current government doing ?

The current president has tried to distance himself by disbanding Seleka , Human Rights Watch says . Djotodia , the president , has denied assertions that his country is on the brink of a genocide .

`` I do n't think there 's a genocide , there 's not even a religious war , all of this is made up , it 's to manipulate , to manipulate the opinion of the international community , '' he told Reuters .

He accused the former regime of fueling the rebellion .

`` They want to create a religious war by all means possible , '' he says . `` That 's what Bozize wants . ''

10 . What is the international community doing ?

Though world leaders have warned of mass atrocities if nothing is done , the response has been limited .

Last month , France pledged to send 1,000 more troops to add to the 400 it already has there . The current troops in the nation , it says , are there in a noncombat mission to protect French nationals and help secure the airport in the capital .

An African Union force is already in the nation . The United Nations has suggested its peacekeeping force should eventually replace the African-led mission known , as MISCA . That potential force could number about 6,000 troops and 1,700 police personnel .

Turning it into a U.N. peacekeeping operation would boost financial and logistical support .

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A coalition of rebels ousted President Francois Bozize in March

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The nation plunged into complete chaos

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World response has been limited